::::::::::::::::::::::::: LABthe magazine for alumni, parents, andLIFE friends of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools | WINTER 2011/2012

BEYOND THE BERET: HELPING Middle and High Schoolers grow into thoughtful, focused artists GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION: WITH 96 CAISSONS, THE WORK GOES ROLLING ALONG IN THE HALLS: IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN LAB NOTES: CLASS NOTES & ALUMNI NEWS LABLIFE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::A DEVELOPING from the director in this issue ::::::::::STORY:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: LabLife, published three Dear Friends, times a year, is written for 01A developing story Science, music, literature, math,and the University of Chicago I am intrigued by the connection that John Dewey had A kindergarten unit Laboratory Schools’ to the arts. We think of him as the one who pioneered that culminates with a community of alumni, celebratory releasing of art all come together in a unit that parents, faculty, and staff. “learning by doing,” as an educator who promoted butterflies into the world activities linked to home life—digging in a garden or culminates with a celebratory releasing Director preparing a meal to help students access scientific or 02In the Halls David W. Magill mathematical skills. But he also had a deep and involved Professional development, of butterflies into the world. connection to the arts and music. U-High historians, the royal Fewer things prompt wonder have been especially Editor tombs of Belfield Tower, Catherine Braendel, ’81 A series of lectures Dewey gave in the early 1930s at sports highlights, and more and creativity in the minds of keen observers, Harvard University was published as a book, Art as kindergarteners than the stunning comparing what Contributors Experience. John Dewey was the first education director beauty and compact life cycle of the they see in the Laura Demanski, AM’94 04Getting the story Carrie Golus, AB’91, AM’93 of the Barnes Foundation, a museum located in a school behind your blue jeans monarch butterfly. This year, Lab habitat with a poster Kay Kirkpatrick, MAT’72 district outside of Philadelphia World Language teacher kindergarteners were awarded the depicting the stages where I was superintendent. Both and documentary filmmaker Katherine Muhlenkamp spectacular opportunity to watch the in the life cycle. Heather Preston Dewey and Albert Barnes were Xiaoli Zhou Laura Putre interested in heightening critical entire metamorphosis literally unfold Benjamin Recchie, AB’03 Every area of thought can thinking and problem-solving skills 08Jammed Locker before their very eyes. To reinforce 9/30/11: This week Elizabeth Station through the study of art. what they learned, the five- and we saw caterpillars Beth Wittbrodt benefit from the way art 11It’s not easy being six-year-olds read related texts, sang hanging in a “J” and In fact, many of the illustrations green Design butterfly songs, and made art: collage magically changing used in Art as Experience came from Teacher David Kaleta, ’95, Good Studio helps an individual access Barnes’ collection, and according at the V&A and papier-mâché; acrylics to create into beautiful green Photography creativity, a new way of to the Stanford Encyclopedia of symmetrical representations; pen, ink, and gold chrysalises Chris Kirzeder Philosophy, “Dewey was ahead 14Fall events and pencil to “draw what they see.” (some people say Bringing together alumni, 10/14/11: The kindergartners were of his time in his devotion to chrysalides). We are Lab Notes Correspondents seeing, or a connection to family, and friends invited inside a screened tent we set multiculturalism. The selection of patiently waiting for Dozens of diligent alumni illustrations Dewey chose for Art as up in the classroom for a close-up agents Lab+ the 10–14 days of this emotion or empathy. Experience included Pueblo Indian 16 Then, we got to see what we’d look at the monarchs. A couple of Film pioneer Sherry especially quiet stage of pottery, Bushmen rock-painting, children preferred to observe from Publisher Lansing, ’62, pledges the life cycle to pass. As University of Chicago Scythian ornament, and African sculpture, as well as works by El Greco, Renoir, $5 million to the all been waiting for...two of our outside the tent. However, most of the a group, we have a solid Laboratory Schools Cezanne, and Matisse.” Laboratory Schools children felt the tickle-y legs crawling 1362 E. 59th Street butterflies emerged! understanding of the four Today, our arts faculty teach with an understanding that every area of thought can along their hands and delighted in the Chicago, IL 60637 18Beyond the beret stages of the butterfly life p: 773-702-3236 benefit from the way art helps an individual access creativity, a new way of seeing, or a fluttering wings around their heads. Teachers help Middle and cycle—egg, caterpillar, f: 773-834-9844 connection to emotion or empathy. High Schoolers grow into www.ucls.uchicago.edu chrysalis, and butterfly— thoughtful, focused artists 10/21/11: We said our final goodbyes Schools have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that students exercise both sides which we have started Please send comments to to our monarchs last week. First, of the brain during their formative years. It’s why we schedule music or art almost daily 22Groundbreaking representing in different [email protected] in the Lower School. But until now (and this is hard to believe), not one space currently sitting in the grass outside of our celebration kicks off mediums. Volume 5, Number 2 housing our music, theatre, and visual arts program was originally designed for that construction French doors, the children said their purpose. The planned Arts Wing gives us a chance to correct that and to ensure that our With 96 caissons, the work quiet goodbyes and sang, “Butterfly, goes rolling along 10/7/11: We noticed © 2012 by the University of facilities match the creativity of the students and teachers who will work in them. butterfly, open your wings…” as Chicago Laboratory Schools a change in two of the Lab alumni, as always, are a testament to the excellence of a Lab education. Working we watched the 24Justice John Paul chrysalides—first they Reproduction in whole or with Sherry Lansing, ’62, whose generosity will help make possible the Sherry Lansing Stevens, ’37, AB’41, and butterflies flutter turned grayish green and part, without permission of Theater in the new Arts Wing, will always be a highlight of my time at Lab. Her gift has the Laboratory Schools away. The final then transparent. Several the publisher, is prohibited. been inside of her for a long time. It has been an honor to find an opportunity for Ms. An “intellectual heir” of farewell came on the Dewey kindergartners noticed Lansing to express her deep appreciation for her Lab experience and to advance theatre playground where and film in a facility bearing her name. the orange and black of we blew kisses and 26Lab Notes the folded wings through While Ms. Lansing is a prominent Lab graduate working in the arts, there are many Class notes and profiles of bubbles to wish the the chrysalis cases, just others—some of their works adorn the Lab campus—and all are an inspiration to the Amy Tate Billingsley, ’52; last monarchs well Michael Weisskopf, ’64; like we’d read about in next generations of Labbies. on their long journey Wendell Lim, ’82; Julia books. Then, we got to Betley, ’02 to Mexico. We had David W. Magill, EdD Teachers Christina Hayward and see what we’d all been waiting for . . . Director beautiful sunshine Kristin Smith kept families updated: two of our butterflies emerged! This 39In Remembrance which helped get our If you are an alumni artist or classmate of an alumni artist, please consider leaving or is definitely a dramatic point in the minds off feeling a financing gifts of art at Lab, the place that may have sparked that artistic inclination. 9/23/11: monarch’s life cycle. 41From the U-High The very fat monarch little bit sad. To discuss a gift of art, please contact Pam Winthrop at 773-702-6650. Midway caterpillars [are] in our classroom habitat along with the five chrysalides U-Highers are an independent group and often devote significant time outside of regular that have formed already. Children school hours to extracurricular activities: joining sports teams, publishing the U-High Midway, serving in student government, participating in theater or music productions.

::::::::::::::onthecover:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Christina Hayward LABLIFE::::::::::::::::::::::01::::::::: The royal tombs of Belfield Towers Here comes the sun MIDDLE SCHOOLERS UNCOVER from online vendors like the Museum Store Company and an Iraqi replica Following the fall equinox tracker, students are able to calculate CIVILIZATION manufacturer, the pieces are modeled Each September, as Lab sixth-graders the latitude of Chicago and to Every fall, Kelly Storm’s sixth-graders on real-life artifacts. study astronomy, they head outdoors measure the angle at which sunlight sneak into the royal tombs of Ur. During the hunt, students analyze to track the fall equinox—when the strikes the Earth in Chicago—a key Tiptoeing through darkened tunnels and which relics best demonstrate all five sun crosses the equator moving factor in determining our climate. chambers, they ferret out Mesopotamian characteristics of a civilization: surplus southward and day and night are of Several students will repeat the artifacts such as bronze figurines and food, social structure, government, approximately equal length. activity on the winter solstice in cuneiform samples. culture, and labor specialization. Then On the date of the December and report to the class It’s a covert mission that they take a trip to the University’s equinox—this year, how the angle of the sun has changed tests their knowledge of ancient Oriental Institute, where they can see September 23—Middle during the winter. civilizations—and their stealthiness. If many of the original artifacts. School science teachers Learning about the climate they run into Sir Charles Woolley, the “They’ve been touching and playing Mark Wagner and Debbie zones and their causes is one of British archaeologist famed for his Ur with the replicas at school, and now they Kogelman provide each the objectives of the sixth grade excavations, warns Ms. Storm, they’ll can see the real ones,” says Ms. Storm. student with a sun tracker (a astronomy unit. “When we talk about “be in big trouble.” “They get a kick out of that.” clear, plastic half-dome that stars, we talk about what you would “It’s a lot of role play and is 18 cm in diameter) and a see if you went out at night, but the imagination,” says the transparency marker. sun is something we can actually go humanities teacher, who Six times throughout the out and do experiments with,” says has done some form of the If they run into Sir Charles Woolley, day, students mark the spot Mr. Wagner. “Each year, when we’re exercise for the past seven where a shadow is cast on off doing this, kids from previous years. She creates the “tombs” the British archaeologist famed their “tracker,” eventually years will say, ‘Oh yeah I remember in her classroom out of chairs, for his Ur excavations, warns producing a visual representation of that project!’ It’s a rite of passage.” poster board, and blankets, the sun’s path as it moves across the then divides the structure Ms. Storm, they’ll “be in big trouble.” sky. Using data collected from the sun into stations and fills it with treasures. Purchased

ceramic pieces into a kiln, and fired lid to control the fire, and waited as During the two-week course, Ms. a cutting-edge glaze that takes on a Fired up them to 2,000 degrees. Picking up the smoke permanently colored the clay. Ganzarain resided at Ox-Bow, where an metallic sheen after being fired; and fragments with tongs, she tossed them This method of firing, Raku, 8 a.m. wake-up bell started each day. about different types of clay. Based on art teacher retreats into a container full of leaves, shut the blackens clay and can sometimes She attended class in the morning and the experience, Ms. Ganzarain—who to ox-bow crackle glazes. spent many hours in the studio, which teaches U-High sculpture and studio This past June, as temperatures It was one was open 24 hours. “I’m a night owl,” art courses as well as second-grade soared above 90 degrees, Lower of many new says Ms. Ganzarain, “so I found myself art—plans to introduce her students to and High School fine arts teacher techniques quite at home with many other night new clays and non-toxic glazes. She’ll Mirentxu Ganzarain turned up the Ms. Ganzarain owls. After dinner we would have guest also teach a hand-building technique heat. On a typical day during her learned during lectures by international and national in which ceramicists overlap pieces of stay at Ox-Bow, the Michigan artists’ her ceramic- artists working in various fields, then clay as opposed to stacking coils. retreat, she donned a helmet and sculpture class go back to the studio and work until 1 “My favorite thing was being heavy, fire-resistant clothing, threw 40 at Ox-Bow, a.m. or so.” so absorbed in making art that I a renowned A sculptor who currently works in completely lost track of time,” says She donned a helmet and heavy, art school mixed media and has a background Ms. Ganzarain. “I missed dinner and artist in metals, Ms. Ganzarain was eager twice. These sorts of professional fire-resistant clothing, threw 40 residency to enhance her school curriculum development opportunities are nestled in and personal creativity by taking a amazing—one of the things that make ceramic pieces into the kiln, and acres of forest ceramics course. In addition to Raku Lab such a great place. If the teachers in Saugatuck, and other types of firing, she learned are inspired, they teach in an inspired fired them to 2,000 degrees. Michigan. several hand-building techniques; way.” how to make various glazes, including

::::::::02::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Mirentxu Ganzarain :::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::03::::::::: :::::::::::Gettingthestory behind your blue jeans:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: World Language teacher and together on “The documentary filmmaker Xiaoli Women’s Kingdom,” a Zhou brings her storytellers’ segment for the PBS Silent observers craft and knowledge of Chinese series Frontline about NEW SCULPTURE BY LAB ALUM and the artist’s connections to culture to the classroom China’s matriarchal KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE the Laboratory Schools—and the “I’ve always loved telling stories of Mosuo culture. CAMPUS advocacy of Lab Director David human beings, of ordinary people,” Later, while making If you get the nagging feeling that Magill—made it a natural choice. The says Xiaoli Zhou. “I like learning things “Damming the Angry someone is watching you as you sculpture’s relocation was funded, in I didn’t know before.” River,” a documentary walk through Kenwood Mall, you part, by the Chamber. Ms. Zhou, a Chinese teacher at Lab about environmental are right. There’s a new piece of Mr. Freedman, a lecturer at the since 2010, has used some of these activists in China, art at Lab: a cast iron sculpture by University of Pennsylvania School of things she’s learned to tell compelling Ms. Zhou and Mr. Matthew Freedman, ’74, called People Design, approves of the artwork’s stories as a documentary filmmaker. Huffman got caught Watching. Originally created as a publicly accessible new site, on what A native of China, she earned an together in an commission for Hyde Park’s Harper he remembers as a spot Lower School undergraduate degree in journalism avalanche. Court, the sculpture was relocated to students ran past on their way to from Shanghai Fudan University. They survived, Lab this past summer. gym class. “My brother Josh [’76] After working for several years at the and “after that, Mr. Freedman, whose mother remembers being in second grade Shanghai bureau of the Wall Street we decided to get is retired Lab teacher Dorothy or thereabouts and thinking, while Journal, she enrolled at the University married,” says Freedman, was commissioned by the running past a pair of walking adults Ms. Zhou with a Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce to on his way to a dodge ball or soccer smile. Although Mr. create the sculpture while a graduate game, ‘Why would anyone walk when The film made the class “go Huffman is from student at the University of Iowa. they could run?’” he says. “It will be a little deeper in talking about Ohio’s Amish country He was experimenting with creating nice to be a permanent part of all and she is a city large sculptures out of metal obtained that running around, even by proxy.” who’s responsible for labor girl from Shanghai, by melting down old bathtubs and ...... “we realized that Buddhas of Aynak, tells the story of She speaks proudly of former students radiators—“Recycling before recycling Should you care to contribute to the conditions—is it factory owners, we shared a lot,” including a mutual archaeologists fighting to save cultural who went on to study Chinese history was cool,” he says. costs of relocating and repairing this interest in storytelling, politics, and treasures in war-torn Afghanistan. and film in college. “For them, studying The sculpture’s surrealist work of art, please contact Monica the Chinese government, or global travel. A short distance from Kabul, Chinese was not just knowing how to touches—a proscenium arch in one Barnes in the Office of Alumni Relations consumers?” The couple journeyed to Senegal the Aynak desert region is home to write characters.” figure’s chest, a cement truck on the and Development, 773-702-9988. to film The Colony, one of the first an ancient Buddhist monastery site At Lab Ms. Zhou sometimes uses head of another—are part of what documentaries to explore China’s containing frescoes, temples, and documentaries to help students grasp Mr. Freedman describes as “breaking growing economic presence in Africa. statues—and to a massive, undeveloped the cultural context of the language through the ‘general-on-horseback’ The film aired on Al Jazeera English copper reserve. A Chinese company they’re learning. Middle Schoolers style of the recreation of reality.” television in fall 2010 and has received won the contract to develop the site and watched China Blue, an independent He attempted to layer thousands of views online. It focuses on when mining begins in 2012, countless film about teenage girls working in a several different levels the experiences of Chinese families who cultural relics will be destroyed. blue-jean factory in southern China. of information onto the have immigrated to Dakar to start small Ms. Zhou and Mr. Huffman hope The film made the class “go a little sculpture, including businesses, as well as the repercussions to chronicle the story as it unfolds in bit deeper in talking about who’s bas-reliefs in the style of China’s expansion across the a film that follows the major players: responsible for labor conditions—is of comics around the continent. Afghan, French, and American it factory owners, the Chinese bench and chair. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese archaeologists and a Chinese mining government, or consumers?” says Using federal have shops, factories, mines, and manager. Mr. Huffman has made two Ms. Zhou. Her students ended up funds, the Hyde Park infrastructure projects in Africa, and trips to Afghanistan to work on the asking, “What’s behind these jeans I’m Chamber of Commerce China is the biggest trade partner for project. From Chicago, Ms. Zhou has wearing?” commissioned the cast many African nations. In places where helped with research, planning, and Students learn any language best iron sculpture, made divergent cultures have been “thrown fundraising, especially during school when they are genuinely interested in and placed in Harper together by economic opportunity,” breaks. Such juggling is common for the culture, Ms. Zhou believes. Bringing Court in 1986. With of California, Berkeley to pursue a in Mr. Huffman’s words, tension has independent filmmakers, she says: a storyteller’s craft to the classroom, the redevelopment master’s in journalism. sometimes resulted. “It takes all wheels to make one thing she says, “I hope I can be an inspiring of Harper Court, That move launched many projects, Both Ms. Zhou and Mr. Huffman, happen.” teacher.” the Chamber sought including Ms. Zhou’s collaboration with who is an assistant professor at Before coming to Lab as a Middle alternative placement, filmmaker Brent Huffman. The pair met Northwestern’s Medill School of and High School teacher, Ms. Zhou in graduate school and worked Journalism, combine teaching with taught Chinese history and language at filmmaking. Their current project, The the Marlborough School in Los Angeles. above: Xiaoli Zhou and her husband, Brent Huffman, Xiaoli Zhou ::::::::04:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::on location in Sichuan Province :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::05::::::::: :::::::::inthehalls::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Jason Lopez Developing a grade-wide reading culture Growing great “How do we teach reading—the The teachers—Dee Beaton, Nicole heartbreaking, soul-searching kind of Power, Linda Weide, Debby Davis, and teachers reading, the reading that makes you grade chair Jessica Palumbo—are Lab’s new approach to feel as if you are breathing some new collaborating on units of study kind of air? . . . How do we teach the throughout the year, starting with professional development “Typically when you talk about power of reading—the way “Building a Reading Life.” In this unit, professional development, it’s it allows us to see under the students learned about each other something that’s done to a teacher,” words, between the words, and themselves as readers, while the Are there any rules or requirements? says Jason Lopez, Lab’s associate beyond words?” teachers established work habits to We strongly encourage, but do not director, educational programs. —Lucy Calkins, A Guide help students become enthusiastic and require, teachers to connect with “Somebody else comes in and tells to the Reading Workshop metacognitive readers. An important others from their discipline or grade teachers, ‘Here’s what you need (2010) emphasis of the program is helping level who have a shared interest. So to learn; here’s what you can get each child find “just-right books:” it’s teacher-driven and collaborative better at.’” Last summer, 25 Lower books that are exactly at a student’s in nature. For the most part, each In November, Lab flipped that School teachers spent a individual reading level. group has about four members. Since approach on its head with the week attending a seminar So far, the pilot program has been Lab has nearly 200 teachers, we can first teacher-driven professional led by the Reading going well. “Our initial impressions have as many as 50 small groups development day. Kids stayed home Institute, affiliated with are that students are becoming aware going at once, and continuing to meet from school and faculty came to Teachers College of that they are active participants in throughout the year. Columbia University. This their reading lives,” says Ms. Palumbo. learn and collaborate on projects they created. academic year, all of the “They are becoming responsible for What kinds of projects have teachers Teachers are excited about the third grade homeroom choosing just-right books. They are proposed? change. “I really enjoyed the feeling teachers are planning a curriculum learning to participate in their reading It’s amazing; I have worked for 23 of freedom and autonomy that came together based on this research—and experience through teacher modeling years in schools and I have never with getting to develop a project that on the Reading Workshop approach of thinking strategies. And students seen this level of enthusiasm for a small handful of my coworkers and I to teaching reading, developed by throughout the third grade are using a professional development. One are interested in,” says Middle School Teachers College professor and author common language to discuss literature. group, for example, is looking at humanities teacher Sam Nekrosius. Lucy Calkins. It’s helping us to develop a grade-wide ways to teach students with learning He is one of four teachers who formed reading culture.” differences. Others are working on a young-adult literature reading group movement with preschoolers, on for their professional growth project. Latin American art and literature, on For the first time ever, four students Three of the four students originally She also scanned books at the Catholic “This year was incredibly creating and maintaining community from the same school—U-High—will wrote the papers for Paul Horton’s AT Theological Union. different,” agrees U-High science Making history in a competitive culture, and more. It’s have their work published in the World History class. Getting published Before submitting their papers for teacher Daniel Jones, who is pursuing Four U-High historians publish exciting. Concord Review in the same year. in the Concord Review is an honor he publication, students go through an entomology research and working work in international journal The only quarterly journal compares to being selected for the intensive editing process that “involves the with a group of teachers who want to What’s the goal of all this activity? to publish the academic work of Intel pre-college science competition. history and English faculties through the improve mathematics and life science At Lab more than any other place I’ve secondary students, the Concord Review “Students pick only those topics that U-High Writers’ Center,” says Mr. Horton. connections at Lab. been, our teachers think about their accepts just six percent of the history they are fascinated with; I do not assign “In some cases, the World Language Mr. Lopez talked to LabLife about craft: “How did I do? How did it go? essays submitted to it from around the topics. This is the key to success,” department helps students who have the new program. What could I have done differently?” world. U-High is among the schools says Mr. Horton. “If you give them made extensive use of primary sources We’re trying to enable and encourage that editor Will Fitzhugh says he counts the time and opportunity, they can do written in languages other than English.” What is the philosophy guiding teachers to act on that reflection. on “for a steady stream of excellent it. A teacher’s job is to find ways for Students say that having their work professional growth at Lab? Ultimately, we want this to be another papers.” students to find confidence.” published is about more than prestige and We want our students to be responsible way to improve the experience that our Senior Kristina Wald’s history of Students rose to the challenge of piling up awards for their college resumes. for their own learning, and we start students have. That’s why we’re here, the teddy bear appeared in the fall finding and analyzing primary sources “The greatest thing about AT World is that handing over the keys to them very and that’s the long-term goal. 2011 issue along with junior Natalia for their research. Natalia’s five-page it taught me how to be a historian rather early on. So now we have a system Ginsburg’s comparative study of piracy bibliography lists nearly 50 books than just a history student,” says David. where teachers are responsible for in the Caribbean and East Asia. Juniors and articles located in the University’s “History is an ongoing conversation that their own professional development. A Patricia Perozo and David Tong will Regenstein Library and through JSTOR, spans states and even continents,” adds teacher identifies an area—maybe with see their essays on Sor Juana Ines de a digital archive. Says Patricia, “I Natalia. “There’s something amazing the guidance of an administrator, but la Cruz and the McCartney expedition checked out every English language about feeling like I’m part of that mostly on their own—and then makes to China, respectively, published in the book on my topic and a fair number in conversation.” a proposal about what they’d like to winter 2012 issue. Spanish. The Regenstein’s section on ...... research, study, and implement in their Sor Juana was picked clean after I left.” Read the students’ papers at tcr.org. class for one, two, or three years. :::::::::06::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Natalia Ginsburg, Kristina Wald, Patricia Perozo, David Tong :::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::07::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Fall 2011 Issues #1-2 inthehalls::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Sandra Bixby

the city, deciding he’ll stay behind to that chaos was simply making its way Recommended take care of his property. Eggers mixes to him? She was reluctant to believe the the ordinary and the extreme in ways hyperbolic and racially charged news reading that make the story real and accessible. coverage, but still, things were devolving. In one scene, his wife, Kathy, is warning Most of those left were trying desperately Sandra Bixby, interim Zeitoun to stay away from the windows. to get out. She could not stand it.” assistant principal, Her husband is in the path of a category 5 Mr. Eggers writes in a straightforward, recommends Zeitoun by The first half of the book focuses on hurricane and they’re talking about documentary style that held my attention Logo Programming Advanced Math Classes How Much Do We Really Dave Eggers Language Need Cell Phones? Abdulrahman Zeitoun as he works in his windows. Kathy wonders aloud if there and made this a quick read. Even having By Helena Abney-McPeek New Orleans neighborhood, restoring and was something foolish in what they seen all of the news coverage of Katrina, By Campbell Phalen By Olivia Cheng All of us have books that repairing houses. He is a well-respected were doing. Zeitoun surprised me as I learned about Some kids take math classes that have been on our shelves just local businessman with a stable family are advanced for their grade. The Most people in the middle school But ultimately it isn’t the weather a “greyhound prison” in New Orleans, good thing about this is that you have some kind of cell phone. waiting for the day when we and close circle of friends. As the storm that threatens their lives; it’s anarchy, and how innocent civilians were held in a will be challenged and that you However, some don’t. Are they finally have time to read them. approaches he sends his family out of racial profiling, and a breakdown in the maximum-security prison for months on work at an appropriate level for truly missing out? One book I’ve had on standby is Zeitoun, your abilities. The bad thing is basic laws and rights of citizens that end. Dave Eggers’ novel, a true story, tells that the grade that you are taking Cell phones are usually Dave Eggers’ account of a family caught are the real and present dangers in a gripping tale of hurt and survival. math with might have a different recommended by this age because by Hurricane Katrina. It’s the story of a the aftermath of the storm. “Kathy schedule, and you might end up fifth through eighth graders are Eggers mixes the ordinary and with a complicated schedule. There alone a lot. They provide a way to Syrian Muslim and his Southern, Muslim- was certain Zeitoun was unaware of Logo is a programming language are seven sixth graders who take communicate with family when convert wife. In the wake of the storm, the extreme in ways that make the level of danger being reported. used in education. Students in fifth advanced math classes. Six of them something isn’t right. . . . their lives become defined by a loss of grade learnLogo, an introduction take Algebra (seventh grade math), He may have felt safe uptown but to computer programming in and one takes Geometry (eighth The question is, though, are they control and near tragedy—a startling the story real and accessible. what if there were really chaos, and computer science class with Ms. grade math). If you think that the necessary? How much danger are shift from their pre-Katrina lives. Hansen. Logo was made in 1967 math course you take now is too you in if you’re walking home which is old for a programming easy and want to move up a grade, without a phone? In a sense, you’re language. Logo was developed in you can see your math teacher and more likely to not be mugged (not the MIT artificial intelligence (AI) Ms. Jones for a test-taking time. saying you will be with a phone) laboratory. if you have no cell phone in your hand. And if you’re in immediate Logo uses a turtle as an output danger, they won’t help much. Baker Franke hono red by White House as Champion of Change device. What that means is Phones are expensive. Some that everything you do in logo families say that it’s not worth it Students inadvertently help to be recognized in person, as someone department to anyone,” he says. “The issues that span gender, race, and is a turtle. You give the turtle to spend a couple hundred bucks create a “women in STEM fields” who “has worked to increase the next year almost half of my AP class economics—that have made computer command to move forward or on a little electronic gadget that visibility and credibility of high school was girls, and again a girl in the class science unattractive to students. We turn the turtle. If you make a game probably won’t do much good. champion where you chase a dog, the dog is a In December, U-High computer science computer science. Much of this work [Emily Kuo, ’09,] won the NCWIT award work on it every day. The fact that so turtle as well but in a costume. In my opinion, cell phones are teacher Baker Franke was one 12 leaders involves ensuring that women and other and I called her up on stage, alone, at many young women at Lab succeed in like TVs and computers. They can under-represented groups are given the school’s award ceremony. Since then computer science, and go on to major in Logo is a procedural programming help you at certain times, but they in the effort to recruit and retain girls language which means you give the are used mostly for enjoyment. and women in science, technology, opportunities to succeed in a discipline I’ve never had a gender equity problem it in college and even work in the industry turtle commands and it executes My phone is just another ‘device’ engineering, and math (STEM) fields who that has historically excluded them.” in class. Year after year many girls cite is a good indicator that we’re on the right the commands in the order you to me. Other people may agree or In the entry he penned for the White seeing those who came before them track.” give them. disagree. were honored as White House Champions of Change. House blog, Mr. Franke wrote, “I am on stage as a big reason why they gave At the ceremony that honored The White House website described something of an accidental champion computer science a try.” Mr. Franke and the other Champions Mr. Franke, who visited the White House of women in STEM fields.” He explains But Mr. Franke’s interest in was the chair of the White House that in 2008 two expanding the field of computer Council on Women and Girls: Lab young women in his science can be more broadly defined. parent and former Lab board member, Jammed Locker packed with AP Computer Science He explains, “While I will proudly stand Valerie Jarrett, X’73, who serves as a class—Aimee Lucido, accused of being a champion for senior advisor to President Obama. student perspective ’09, and Elisabeth women in STEM, I’m actually concerned ...... Morant, ’09—applied specifically about opening computer Watch the YouTube video of Mr. Franke The Jammed Locker, Lab’s Middle Excerpted, with permission, for and won the science up everyone.” When U-High speaking as part of the day’s panel School newspaper, is written and from recent editions of National Center for made computer science a required discussion: produced by students in grades 5–8, the Jammed Locker. Women & Information course, as opposed to an elective, the http://www.youtube.com/ under the advisement of computer Technology’s (NCWIT) department thought carefully about watch?v=qkapBbp3Vuo&t=29m22s science teacher Ruthie Hansen. Now award for “Aspirations shaping the learning experience. “We ...... you can read them online. Login in Computing.” were very concerned that the class spoke Read Mr. Franke’s White House blog entry, to the Parent or Alumni LabNet at “I presented it to to everyone, and allowed everyone to “Women in STEM = American Economic www.ucls.uchicago.edu. them at our school’s experience and realize the beauty and joy Competitiveness,” at annual award ceremony of computing. I don’t think we’re there http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/issues/ and it was the only yet by any stretch, but we are aware Education?page=1 award given by my of the issues—particularly the cultural

::::::::08:::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Sandra Bixby :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::09::::::::: ::::::FROM THE SYLLABI ::::: QUILTANDHOTCOCOA :::::::::inthehalls:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Right about this time last year, Mother Nature clobbered Chicago with more ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::NOT INCLUDED:::::::::::::::: than 20 inches of snow (and Lab had its historic two-day closure). If you’re ready to snuggle up with your little one and a good book, here are stormy suggestions made by Blaine librarians: Katy and the Big Snow Virginia Lee Burton The Story of Snow: The Recess at 20 Below Science of Winter’s Wonder Poles Apart: Why Cindy Lou Aillaud Mark Cassino Stopping by Woods on Penguins and Polar It’s not easy a Snowy Evening Bears Will Never Be Robert Frost Neighbors Elaine Scott being green LEGO creation by teacher DavID Kaleta, ’95, displayed at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum Animals in Winter Students may sometimes wonder what Henrietta Bancroft teachers do in their spare time. In the Mouse Guard: case of David Kaleta, ’95, the answer is Winter 1152 Black Whiteness: David Petersen anything but ordinary: he creates giant Admiral Byrd Alone in Snowy Owls the Antarctic sculptures out of LEGO, most notably Wendy Pfeffer Robert Burleigh one that looks like a giant frog being dissected. Mr. Kaleta—the son of two educators—originally intended to major in architecture, but ended up studying Sports Highlights:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: interdisciplinary art education in college before joining the Lab faculty. With his Golf Cross-country “Frog in Dissection,” he put his art skills to display it as an important example professional development program, Mr. Senior Akila Raoul became the Junior Sarah Curci earned ISL to good use. The sculpture uses 1,000– of skilled making of both social and Kaleta traveled to London over winter first female U-Higher to compete Runner of the Year for winning 2,000 pieces of LEGO, and enjoyed at sectionals when she advanced the ISL Championship race. aesthetic merit.” And indeed Mr. break to see his installation and host a success in the online LEGO “Olympics.” to the Class A Girls Sectional She also won the 2A Regional Kaleta’s creation shared space with workshop at the V&A in which he shared Mr. Kaleta considers the installation tournament. Sophomore Rahul Championship and finished 26th, some highly notable offerings, including other examples of his work, answered a Lab effort, since he “consulted art Mehta qualified for the 1A Boys among 209 runners, in the State works by industrial designer Ron Arad, questions, and built a model of a Sectional tournament. finals. teacher Brian Wildeman and science fashion designer Alexander McQueen, Chicago/Hyde Park-inspired apartment teachers David Derbes and Dan Jones.” and architect/designer Thomas building. Girls Volleyball Girls Swimming After the “Olympics,” Mr. Kaleta Heatherwick. The show included Junior Jabria Lewis and With a time of 2:00.96, the went viral. His photos and story were items as varied as a six-necked guitar, sophomore Gabrielle Rosenbacher 200-yard medley relay team set picked up by a few LEGO blogs and then bioimplant embroidery used for medical were selected All-ISL and Jabria, a school record. Seniors Sydney other tech and art blogs. devices (showing the application of All-Tournament at De La Salle. The Scarlata (breaststroke) and Says Mr. Kaleta: “I was then craft in service of cutting-edge medical team raised more than $750 in Catherine Yunis (freestyle), junior contacted by the UK Telegraph, which advancement), a life-size crocheted bear, their third annual Volley-for-the- Annette Cochrane (butterfly), asked to run some pictures, and the and a carbon-fiber canoe. Cure contest in September. and freshman Katie Adlaka Discovery Channel, which did a bit The show celebrates ideas that Lab (backstroke) broke the record set on it for the show Daily Planet.” Then teachers certainly inspire in their own Girls Tennis 21 years ago in 1990 by Renee the world-renowned London art and Varsity took second place in the Simon Aronsohn, ’91, Katherine students: “Making is the most powerful design museum, the Victoria & Albert, ISL. As she has done every year, Burno, ’91, Colleen Sellers, ’93, way that we solve problems, express contacted him in April, and “Frog in senior Leslie Sibener qualified and Dillan Siegler, ’91. Their time ideas, and shape our world. What and Dissection” shared space with works by for State doubles, this time with was 2:01.32. This year’s team also how we make defines who we are and partner junior Hannah Resnick. placed fourth in Sectionals. artists, scientists, and designers from communicates who we want to be . . . around the world as part of a show [Making] is a way of thinking, inventing, Boys Soccer called “The Power of Making” that ran and innovating. And for some it is Seniors Shane Veeneman, Philip September 2011 through January 2012. simply a delight to be able to shape a Lockwood Bean, and Martin When inviting Mr. Kaleta to lend material and say ‘I made that.’” Garrett-Currie won All-ISL honors. his work to the exhibit, V&A staffer Sponsored in part by Lab’s Charlotte Allan wrote, “We would like

Top: Sarah Curci, Alexandra Chang , and Katelyn Suchyta David Kaleta, ’95 ::::::::::10::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Bottom: Sydney Scarlata :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::11:::::::: Stephanie Mitzenmacher

Teacher wins award, gets Spreading the Skunk King gospel shipped off to tropical rainforest Lessons from a Grammy-award “This is a smart school,” said King, who wins her over by doing the When fifth grade teacher Stephanie Her group spent three days at the winning performer Mr. Harley when they parroted back one thing no one else does: asking Mitzenmacher won the Mary V. La Selva Biological Research Center, “We’re going to learn to clap,” the chorus perfectly. The Lower politely. Williams Award for Excellence in which focuses on biodiversity and performer Bill Harley said. “It’s a School audience laughed. In preparation for Mr. Harley’s Teaching in the fall of 2009, she Neotropical ecosystems. They spent most of their days hiking, taking very important life skill.” The third- When it comes to children’s day at Lab—he was on tour in had a decision to make. The award, presented annually to a Lower or notes about the environment and and fourth-graders seated in Max entertainers, Mr. Harley is nothing Chicago—Ms. Fahrenwald and short of a rock star. Once other librarians played his albums Middle School teacher, comes with a diversity of life around them. (“On our described by Entertainment during class. By the time he showed monetary stipend to use in pursuit of first four-hour hike, I recorded over Weekly as “the Mark Twain up singing about Charlene, many a personal or professional passion. 60 different species of plants and Ms. Mitzenmacher, who has been animals,” she says.) They moved on to of contemporary children’s students knew the skunk’s tale by teaching at Lab since 2002, didn’t explore Arenal, an active volcano, and music,” he’s won two Grammy heart. know what she wanted to use her the cloud forest of Monteverde. There, awards and has recorded He also made sure they didn’t award for until a colleague tipped her she visited the Cloud Forest School, more than a dozen albums of forget new ones. During a morning off about a course on Neotropical a “very small independent school stories, music, and spoken- performance for the first and second ecology in the forests of Costa Rica where nature is the classroom,” she word delights. graders, Mr. Harley performed a offered by Earth Expeditions. The says—and one of her favorite parts of her use of natural resources. She also Woven with inventive plot story about a boy hiding inside a nonprofit, with Miami University and the trip. hopes that her stories from Costa Rica twists and characters, Mr. peanut. He told students that if they the Cincinnati Zoo, runs conservation Ms. Mitzenmacher has tried to can inspire her students to be more Harley’s memorable tales go shared the tale with three people, it and ecology programs around the bring the spirit of aware of the nature around them. hand-in-hand with a 100-year- would belong to them. “It’ll be your world, tailored for educators who can her adventure back “They do not have to travel old Lower School library story,” he promised. share what they learn more widely. to her classroom. great distances to learn to tradition: oral storytelling. Sure enough, the story still Ms. Mitzenmacher was intrigued She used a photo appreciate the beauty of the “In hearing and retelling circulates around the Lower School by the possibility of having “up close from her trip—of natural world,” she says, or Bill’s stories,” says librarian halls. “We hope that they continue and personal experiences with the spiders spinning an to “see how interconnected Irene Fahrenwald, “students to tell the stories they learn at Lab natural world in ways that are not part enormous web—as everything is.” are exposed to interesting to their children and grandchildren,” of my everyday life here in Chicago.” a writing prompt, language and imagery, expand says Ms. Fahrenwald. She signed up for a ten-day class last and has tried to familiarity with elements of ...... summer. adapt her own plot and story structure, and Check out Bill Harley’s stories and habits to be more gain experience with public songs at www.billharley.com. conscientious about speaking.” As part of the curriculum, students also listened to Mr. Harley’s CDs, read his books, Woven with inventive plot twists and and completed more long-term writing projects. characters, Mr. Harley’s memorable “Bill is a genius,” says Ms. Fahrenwald, who coordinated Mr. Dewey and “morning meetings” inspire parent tales go hand-in-hand with a Harley’s visit along with science teacher Leslie Hornig. “He has this 100-year-old Lower School library incredible connection with kids and academician really creates stories about the kinds Sandra M. Gustafson, parent of two “Many years the pleasure of getting to know how tradition: oral storytelling. of things that happen to them.” Labbies and associate professor of ago I read Dewey’s vision is implemented at Take his crowd-pleaser “You’re English at Notre Dame, acknowledges several of John the University of Chicago Laboratory Palevsky auditorium in Ida Noyes Not the Boss of Me,” the musical John Dewey, the Laboratory Schools, Dewey’s works Schools, where students, teachers, Hall giggled as he led them through tale of a young skunk named and former principal Beverly Biggs in for my graduate administrators, and parents contribute to “Walk a Mile,” a cheery calypso Charlene who is wrongly accused her recent book, Imagining Deliberative exams and was an education in and for democracy. There tune about empathy. “I want to walk when her brother neglects to do Democracy in the Early American Republic attracted to is nothing like the ‘morning meeting’ of [clap, clap] a mile in your shoes,” his chores. The situation escalates (published, coincidentally, by the his pragmatic an internationally diverse group of three- the students sang, swaying in their as she bravely stands up to her UChicago Press). idealism. Since year-olds to give a person hope.” seats as Mr. Harley strummed his siblings, parents, and other higher- 2002 I have had guitar during a November visit. ups. Finally, she faces the Skunk

:::::::12::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Bill Harley Asra Ahmed ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::13::::::::: Deanna Quan, ’89, co-chair of the Alumni Annual Fund Committee ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::A toast to the Dewey and Depencier Societies::::::::::::: The Laboratory Schools honored 184 Development Committee Chair Chris McGowan and Alumni Annual Fund members of the Dewey Founders and Co-chairs Josh Levine, ’02, and DePencier societies—the largest turn-out Deanna Quan, ’89, hosted the event held in the Ida Noyes Theater. ever—at a December wine tasting event. The perimeter of the Gothic space is decorated with a 1918 oil-on-canvas mural, The Masque of Jason Lopez, associate director – educational programs, Atman Shah and Youth, installed for the opening of and Lisa Huff Tarlan Hedayati, ’92 Ida Noyes Hall, at the time a new building for female students...... For information about the DePencier Society (recognizing alumni who give $1,000+ annually to Lab) or the Dewey Founders Society (for alumni, parents, and friends who contribute $2,500+ annually), Dan Sachs and Addison Braendel contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 773-702-0578.

With the help of 50 parent and work on puzzles. Then they took to the rug for a volunteers, 475 grandparents morning meeting to give their and grandfriends visited Lab as guests a flavor of a typical part of the third Grandparents/ day. Lisa Sukenic’s fourth graders interviewed their GP/ Grandfriends Day for students in GF visitors to get a sense of grades N–4. Teachers helped the young how fourth grade has changed. students host their grand Students were curious about guests in Lab style. Students what type of clothes their in Elspeth Stowe-Grant’s guests wore and how their hair kindergarten class had GP/ was styled when they were in GF’s play numbers games the fourth grade. :::::::::::Grandparents and grandfriends make a grand stand::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:::::::14:::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::15::::::::: The new arts wing will support programs in I think what I remember most is that the Lab theater, music, and the visual arts with three Schools were a non-judgmental environment, BY WILLIAM HARMS new performance halls, studios, rehearsal and where we were totally free to be ourselves. practice rooms, a digital media lab, and more. What was important was academics—not other The centerpiece, a 250-seat multipurpose values that people might think are important, theater, will be named the Sherry Lansing such as social status or how you look.” Theater. It will provide an auditorium to “The Lab Schools taught me how to show films, a space for a variety of artistic think,” Ms. Lansing adds. “My education there presentations, and it also will serve as the wasn’t simply a matter of learning particular performance and rehearsal venue for the high facts, but of learning to question, to analyze, school theater program. and to think strategically. It was a special place, :::::::::::::::::::Film pioneer Sherry Lansing, ’62, pledges $5 million to the Laboratory Schools::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

“The arts are a central part of the and whenever I come back to the Lab Schools Laboratory Schools’ tradition, and the new and to the University, the memories come wing will allow arts teaching and practice at flooding back. I feel honored to be able to give Lab to set the standard for middle-school and to the Lab Schools to support a multipurpose secondary education,” says University President space for the arts.” Sherry Lansing Robert J. Zimmer. “It is particularly gratifying In 1966, Ms. Lansing graduated cum to connect this impressive theater, and the laude from Northwestern University and theater programs that call it home, to Sherry went on to teach in inner-city Los Angeles “My education [at lab] wasn’t simply a matter of Lansing. Her contributions to the film industry schools before joining the film industry. set a powerful example for future generations, During almost 30 years in the motion picture LEARNING particular facts, but of learning and her work in philanthropy reflects the values business, she was involved in the production, and ideals of the Laboratory Schools.” marketing, and distribution of more than to question, to analyze, and to After a far-ranging career as a film 200 films, including Academy Award winners producer and executive, Ms. Lansing’s gift Forrest Gump (1994), Braveheart (1995), and THINK strategically.” takes her back to her roots. Ms. Lansing will Titanic (1997). In 1980, she became the first Another SLF program is PrimeTime The new arts wing is part of a larger be honored for her gift at her 50th high school woman to head a major film studio when she LAUSD, a partnership with the Los Angeles expansion of the Schools that will also allow reunion in June 2012. She is a former trustee was appointed president of 20th Century Fox. Unified School District, which engages retirees Lab to maintain its diverse student body at a of the University of Chicago and received the She went on to serve as chairman and CEO of in improving the state of public education time of unprecedented demand, both within Distinguished Alumna award in 1993 from the Paramount Pictures from 1992 to 2005. through targeted volunteerism. Ms. Lansing is the University community and among families Laboratory Schools Alumni Association. Ms. Lansing left Paramount as chairman also a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer, an from the neighborhood and across the city. “Attending the Lab Schools was one of the and CEO at age 60 to pursue a new kind of initiative which funds multi-institutional “Careful planning is taking place to most important experiences of my life,” says career, which she refers to as “her third act.” cancer research “dream teams” of doctor- preserve our rich values and traditions as we Ms. Lansing. “It shaped my value system. “I have an encore career, and I encourage scientists and has distributed more than $180 grow in size and become one of the largest other people to give back something in million in grants to date. In addition, she independent schools in the country,” says Mr. retirement and to have encore careers as well. serves as chair of the University of California Magill. It’s not always a matter of giving money, but Regents and sits on numerous other boards, In late September, the Schools broke of giving time. It is extremely satisfying and including the California Stem Cell Institute, ground for Earl Shapiro Hall, named for 1956 rewarding,” she says. the Carter Center, Civic Ventures, the alumnus Earl Shapiro. The facility on the 5800 In 2005 she created the Sherry Lansing American Association for Cancer Research, the block of South Stony Island Avenue will be the Foundation (SLF), a not-for-profit organization Lasker Foundation, and STOP CANCER. new home for Lab’s early childhood program, supporting cancer research and public David Magill, director of the Laboratory housing nursery school through second-grade education. Among the foundation’s initiatives is Schools, says Ms. Lansing’s gift marks an classes. the EnCorps Teachers Program, which Ms. important moment for the Schools...... Lansing founded to retrain retirees from the “The arts are an important part of a More information about the Lab+ project can be STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, well-rounded education,” Mr. Magill says. found at: www.ucls.uchicago.edu/support-lab/the- and math) to serve as California public middle “The new arts wing will provide spaces to spur lab-plus-campaign and high school teachers in science and math. creativity as students develop their talents in +INVESTING IN music, performance, and visual arts. The Sherry THE POWER OF LAB Lansing Theater will be a premier space that LAB will be a central part of our arts wing.” :::::::::16:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::17:::::::::: BEYOND THE BERET ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Teachers help Middle and High Schoolers It was a bold idea. For her final project, a student in Liese Ricketts’s advanced photography class decided to explore the grow into thoughtful, focused artists impact of the war in Iraq. >>> BY SUSIE ALLEN, AB’09

::::::::18:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::19:::::::::: that occur, and come out the other side with something they’re proud of—there’s nothing more rewarding for a teacher,” says Ms. Ricketts, who teaches Middle School digital photomedia and U-High photography courses. Some students may go on to have a career in the arts; others may It was a bold idea. not take another art class after Lab. For her final project, a student in Liese Yet the faculty believes all students Ricketts’s advanced photography class decided can benefit from understanding to explore the impact of the war in Iraq. the creative process, whatever their But Ms. Ricketts’s student, Catherine level of skill or interest, and they’ve Cantwell, ’04, struggled with her first effort. designed a program that speaks to the Her collection of photographs of yellow school’s broad audience. ribbons outside homes—the traditional The curriculum includes quarter- symbol that someone in that home has a long survey classes loved one away serving in the military—just at the middle wasn’t working. Ms. Ricketts encouraged her school level, as to talk to the soldiers’ families and include well as more them in her images. So Catherine began the advanced offerings nerve-wracking process of knocking on doors. in photography, The result was a “stunning” portfolio. sculpture, mixed The series “was about the whole family media, graphic and the person who wasn’t there,” Ms. design, and drawing Ricketts says. “That’s what she really wanted and painting at the to do, and yet she needed me to push her.” high school level. The idea, she says, is to push students Growing into artists One senior, Matthew Jungert, For the Middle and High School visual The coursework is away from thinking their photos must tell Struggling with a single topic for a long enthusiastically took up the challenge and arts teachers at Lab, this is the ultimate goal. aimed at providing a story. The subject matter can be almost period of time reinforces the idea that “there designed masks, a lamp, and a table out of “Every time someone is allowed to pursue a foundation in anything, as long as the photographer’s is a process of growth to becoming an artist. unusual and recycled materials, from plastic something that is a nugget of themselves— visual literacy, art approach to it is novel or striking. It is not putting on a beret,” Ms. Ricketts bags to old t-shirts. The assignment helped work through the frustrations and problems history, and creative “Photography does not need to be about says. “It’s about focus and care.” foster his interest in industrial design, which thinking for all what’s in the picture. It’s about how the Initially, many students have a limited he plans to study in college. But teachers hope that even students students, while “I have them draw box by box and picture is.” view of what makes a “good” artist, and who aren’t bound for art school will preparing others for more advanced study. upside down so that they have to look When students reach advanced think it resides solely in the ability to draw or experience “the joy of making something,” as carefully at each box.” When they turn photography, the assignments are even more paint realistically. While these skills certainly Fostering creative the image right-side up, “they are often thinking in every surprised by the accuracy they’ve achieved,” “Every time someone is allowed to pursue discipline Mr. Wildeman says. “That cathartic ‘can-do’ According to teacher Brian Wildeman—who moment is sometimes a determining factor in something that is a nugget of themselves—work teaches seventh-grade art as well as U-High how [they] feel about continuing to pursue courses in advanced drawing and painting art in high school .” through the frustrations and problems that and a new graphic design course—fostering Self-portraits also help to connect a student’s creativity is valuable even if their students with art history and artistic occur, and come out the other side with interests lie in other fields. tradition. “There probably isn’t an artist ever “A lot of real-life problems don’t have that hasn’t done a self-portrait,” says Annie something they’re proud of—there’s nothing more a formula,” Mr. Wildeman says. “You don’t Catterson, who teaches high school studio rewarding for a teacher,” says Ms. Ricketts. change the paradigms in science without the art, mixed media, and seventh- and eight- creative part, without the imaginative part.” grade art. “You can show them Leonardo’s self-directed. During the second quarter, matter, “[I try] to push advanced students Ms. Ricketts puts it, in their art classes. At every level, students tackle self-portrait, you can show them Gauguin… students propose a single topic to pursue for from realistic to conceptual thinking,” Mr. The art classroom environment is assignments that prod them to think We have a rich slide show of artists who have the rest of the year. This year, senior Jacob Wildeman says. social but contemplative, according to Ms. creatively and to hone their technical skills. explored their own face in different ways.” Rosenbacher chose to photograph subjects on Ultimately, art “has more to do with Catterson: “It’s a time to explore a different In seventh grade, for example, Mr. Other projects challenge students’ commuter trains, while fellow senior Taylor being open to learn to apply internal kind of learning.” Wildeman has his students draw self- preconceived notions about their medium. Crowl “visualized” common turns of phrase, narratives, and explore them in visual terms,” For many, the studio provides a portraits from photographs. At first, they Ms. Ricketts instructs her beginning like “butterflies in the stomach.” Ms. Catterson agrees. safe haven and a respite from their other struggle to make realistic renderings of photography students to take photos of By the end of the year, students have Like Ms. Ricketts, Mr. Wildeman coursework, Mr. Wildeman says. “That’s one their own faces; then, Mr. Wildeman nothing. “They say, ‘What’s nothing?’ And I produced a coherent portfolio of beautifully gives his advanced students open-ended of the wonderful things about being the art instructs them to place a grid on top of the say, ‘It’s like ‘Seinfeld,” Ms. Ricketts explains. printed work, just as they would do in a prompts that encourage conceptual thinking. photograph. graduate-level course. Recently, he’s asked students to produce teacher—most people look forward to going environmentally sustainable artwork. to class.” :::::::20::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::21:::::::::: The “caisson” in the famous military song WITH 96 CAISSONS, THE WORK is an ammunition cart. However, for Lab’s purposes, caissons are circular holes drilled into the gOES ROLLING ALONG ground some 90+ feet down and filled with concrete to support BY catherine braendel, ’81 a building. They’re used for construction in areas where water Groundbreaking celebration kicks off is a consideration, and that pretty construction for Earl Shapiro Hall much describes all the site. At 20.4 cubic RECENT COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS HAVE FOCUSED ON yards of dirt per truck, HOW OUTDOOR PLAY SPACES WILL BE LANDSCAPED AND that’s about 10,200 cubic yards of soil. WHAT PLAY EQUIPMENT WILL FURTHER And in late December (with temperatures CURRICULAR GOALS well above freezing) the crew poured grade beams—used to connect the caissons for of Chicago’s lakefront real estate. At the 5800 building support. S. Stony Island Avenue site—future home The Nursery/Kindergarten and Lower of the new Earl Shapiro Hall and Lab’s Early School faculties continue to be deeply involved Childhood Campus—96 of them are already in the planning of the new building, which is in place. scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. Recent A lot has happened since September, collaborative meetings with the architects, when hundreds of guests celebrated the consultants, school administrators, and groundbreaking for the new building. On teachers have focused on how outdoor play that sunny Saturday right after the school year and green spaces will be landscaped and had begun, everyone from families to faculty what types of play equipment will further the and alumni to Alderman Leslie Hairston, ’79, curricular goals of Lab’s noted early childhood marveled at the sheer size of the newly cleared education program. Stony Island site. Named for 1956 alumnus Earl Shapiro, The site, then just a wide open gravel the building will be the new home for Lab’s lot—of which about three-fourths will be used early childhood program, housing nursery for Lab’s new campus—was decorated with school through second-grade classes. tents and monitors showing video, not only of In 2008, members of the Shapiro family— the demolition that took place but also of an Earl, his wife, Brenda, and their children animated film imagining what it will feel like Matthew, Benjamin, and Alexandra, all of to move through the new building. whom attended Lab—made a $10 million gift Guests strolled among construction- to the Laboratory Schools, citing the unique related kids’ activities: Lego building, sand combination of talented and diverse students, castle construction, and cookie decorating. outstanding teachers, and a focus on critical Families took advantage of photo-ops on one learning. Earl Shapiro died shortly after the gift impressively large crane. And, as always, kids in his honor was announced. found ways to make the environment their play area, digging in the dusty gravel with mini Lab+ shovels—hands-on “groundbreaking” with Lab Director David Magill. One small child even concluded that the vast open space was the new school! At present, due to the very favorable weather Chicago has had this fall, construction is a little ahead of schedule. Five hundred truckloads of dirt have been removed from :::::::::22::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BY william e. barnhart, mst’69, MBA’81

Most of us don’t remember or would rather justice john paul stevens, ’37, AB’41, forget the blurbs about us in our high school yearbook. But the Correlator for the University High School Class of 1937 published a and the laboratory schooLs remarkably prescient favorite “expression” attributed to classmate John Stevens. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: “Well, no, because ….” It’s not certain whether John ever Justice Stevens visited the University this past October, his said the line. The yearbook’s student At Lab, an “intellectual a community. “The girls had to take shop, and editors, George Bogert, X’37, and the boys had to take home economics,” recalls first visit since 2002. His talk at International House coincided George Rinder, ’37, AB X’41, MBA’42, heir” of Dewey Mr. Rinder. In Dewey’s system, the play area of disclosed years later that the expressions Some of the earliest roots of Stevens’ Scammon Garden was another classroom. with the launch of his new Supreme Court memoir, Five Chiefs. were just “some smartass statements,” as Mr. independent outlook may have come from Accounts by several classmates indicate Bogert puts it, that the editors, under deadline his time at Lab. Edward Siskel, JD’00, one that Johnny was a model Dewey child, active Like Justice Clarence Thomas’ boyhood Justice Stevens attended Lab during the During the era of Robert Maynard pressure, imagined their 80 or so senior class of Justice Stevens’ former law clerks, who in sports, a favorite among his classmates, in Savannah, Georgia, and Justice Sandra 1920s and 1930s, long after John Dewey left Hutchins as the fifth president of the colleagues might have said. “I’m sure we profiled Stevens in the August 2002 University and smart. Mr. Rinder recalls Stevens in the Day O’Connor’s upbringing on the the University. During this time, however, University of Chicago (1929–1951), the offended some people, but we had a good time of Chicago Magazine, wrote that Stevens “in fourth or fifth grade earning extra credit by Lazy B Ranch in Arizona, Justice Stevens’ the Laboratory Schools remained a Deweyan Laboratory Schools, the college, and the doing it,” Mr. Bogert recalls. They were less many ways is an intellectual heir of the Lab quickly solving problems in multiplication and family home overlooking Scammon Garden crucible of research into education methods graduate schools participated in almost successful in predicting Stevens’ “destiny”— Schools’ founder, John Dewey.” division on a classroom chalkboard—while on 58th Street and his years as a University of and outcomes. “We had an awful lot of tests,” non-stop experimentation in organizing and kindergarten teacher. Johnny, as he was known, excelled at Lab, writing in Roman numerals. Chicago student—from kindergarten through Mr. Rinder recalls. Even in the elementary implementing an education program. One But the polite overture to dissent could where Dewey’s controversial, child-centered Justice Stevens’ loyalty to favorite sports a bachelor of arts degree—are imbedded in his school, many teachers were nationally known administrative decision that affected Stevens be etched in the legacy of Justice John Paul teaching methods held sway long after Dewey teams—most famously to his beloved Chicago character and his judicial craft. scholars and authors, including Arthur and his classmates was combining the seventh Stevens’ nearly 35 years on the Supreme Court left the campus in 1904. Doing was central to Cubs—began as a member of a Lab cheering Drawing a connection between Stevens’ Gibbon Bovée, a prominent author of books and eighth grades and creating a new class in of the United States. As one of the Court’s learning in a Dewey school. In Stevens’ school squad that traveled to Maroon basketball Lab experience and his later work as a top- on teaching French, and kindergarten teacher University High called sub-freshmen. “When greatest dissenters, Justice Stevens—who days, Lab students in the elementary grades games and made themselves heard. Mr. Rinder secret U.S. Navy analyst decoding Japanese Olga Adams, whose book Children and the we finished sixth grade, we went to high retired from active service in 2010 at age built models of the historical settings they remembers that Stevens and a few of his radio signals in World War II, Mr. Rinder City advanced the understanding of children as school,” says Mr. Rinder. As a result, Justice 91—shaped American law and illuminated studied. Everyone participated in activity-based friends were the “cool” boys in high school. adds, “Maybe some of his ability to manipulate engaged members of urban society. Stevens graduated from U-High in 1937, at the debate behind its evolution. learning centered on the school itself as things like that developed at an early age.” age 17.

::::::::24::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Justice John Paul Stevens, center above LABLIFE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::25:::::::::: It’s interesting to speculate about how debate about whether America John Paul Stevens John Stevens’ life and American law might should directly enter World War was an academic have been altered if he had experienced the full II in Europe. Two professors in and athletic standout while at term of kindergarten plus 12 years of schooling particular—President Hutchins Lab. He was captain at the Laboratory Schools, graduating at age and a brilliant scholar Hutchins of University High’s 18. Against his parents’ wishes, the young had brought to the campus in 1937 “lightweight” Stevens enlisted in the Navy at the Great 1930, Mortimer J. Adler— basketball team Lakes Naval Air Station, north of Chicago, engaged in a sharp exchange and won its season opener with a last- on December 6, 1941—the day before the about the wisdom of America’s minute shot. Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He often involvement in Europe. Adler suggests in jest that the first event caused the favored immediate engagement; second. Hutchins argued the isolationist Intelligent people can disagree justice Stevens received the In late December 1941, Justice Stevens was beginning graduate studies in English Distinguished AlumnI Award literature at the University. His love of FROM the Laboratory Schools literature had been mentored by one of the college’s most popular and lauded professors, IN 2001, and in 2002 the University of William Rainey Harper Professor of English Norman F. Maclean, PhD’40. (Professor Chicago Alumni Association awarded him the Maclean went on to write the acclaimed Alumni Medal, the highest honor the organization autobiographical novella A River Runs can bestow. Through It.) Stevens calls Professor Maclean “my inspiration” and speaking to University case. Under Stevens’ editorship, the Maroon students in 1979, he said, “The study of published the arguments. As Justice Stevens English literature, especially lyric poetry, is recalled years later, he confronted the power the best preparation for the law. That training of opposing opinions at this high level of helped me later in trying to decipher law thought—the sort of conflict that characterizes statutes.” the work of the Supreme Court. (Stevens also As a senior in the 1940–41 academic had the opportunity to study under these two year, Justice Stevens led the staff of The Daily professors in a rigorous humanities class that Maroon. The student newspaper published emphasized analysis and discussion and later dozens of column inches reflecting the national became known as the Great Books program.) About the author::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: “It was a lesson I’ve often learned, University Press, 2010) that intelligent people could disagree,” about which former FCC he says. The Maroon sided with Adler: chairman, Newton N. Aid to Britain, at a minimum, and of ancient French literary texts. Dean Smith, Minow says, “Bill Barnhart military engagement “if Britain seems a navy veteran of World War I, had another and Gene Schlickman doomed” are required “if we are, in job on campus as a talent spotter for Navy combine their exhaustive truth, to discover the new moral order intelligence. research with insightful for which we are searching as earnestly “He was the undercover guy,” Justice analysis to give readers as [President Hutchins] is,” wrote Stevens recalled. In 1941 Stevens was studying a splendid biography Steven’s friend Ernest Leiser, ’41, the cryptography under Smith—a course not to of the Supreme Court’s most respected member.” Maroon’s chief editorial writer and be found on the college curriculum. After William E. Barnhart, future television news executive at CBS. training in Washington, DC, Stevens shipped MST’69, MBA’81, worked The book also wins the In the wake of Pearl Harbor, the out to Pearl Harbor and won a Bronze Star as a fourth-grade student approval of UChicago Law teacher at the Laboratory professor, and Lab parent, Navy at the end of 1941 rushed to for interpreting Japanese signals under intense Schools during the 1968– Bernard Harcourt: “An increase its ranks of young officers pressure for timely reports on Japanese ship 69 academic year. These excellent, well-written, who could quickly develop the skill of movements. days, he is an independent and fascinating book reading the signals of the Japanese navy, Had undergraduate Stevens been a writer with a 40-year that does a fabulous job which had just decimated the U.S. fleet. member of the Class of 1942, his eventual of presenting Justice career in journalism Stevens’ decision to join the Navy in the induction into the Navy might not have put including covering politics, Stevens’s biography in all its complexity and secret work of radio signal analysis was him on the fast track to Pearl Harbor and business, and finance influenced by Leon Perdue Smith, Jr., a the more than two years of elite work there for several Chicago multiple dimensions. I newspapers. He is the learned a remarkable popular University dean and decipherer that grounded him in the skills of teamwork, co-author of John Paul amount about Justice intense analysis, confidentiality, and rapid Stevens: An Independent Stevens that I had not judgment for which he is honored today. Life (Northern Illinois known before.” ::::::fromtheMidway:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: U-High Midway • Tuesday, November 15, 2011 • PAGE 1 57th Street business surviving double lunch loss “What can you do though? We tried doing little specials like hot wings, but business is still so slow. I think we can recover, but we just need to find a way to advertise better. I mean, if I were a teenager, I’d eat here.” “We stilL need all the customers we can get. We just need people in general. If five lab schoolers came by, it’ll still make a difference.” U-Highers say they miss the opportunity to dine off campus. A frequent off-campus diner, Senior Jessica Blocker can rarely eat at nearby restaurants with her friends at all, let alone during lunch. “Usually I would go out to eat with my friends, the University Market when it still existed, Noodles Etc., U-HIGHERS no longer crowd 57th Street on Thursday afternoons now that double lunch has been ended. U-High business overall has been down. Photo by Taylor Crowl. or the Medici,” Jessica said. “It was nice to have two periods where everyone was free.” any difference. It could be that, I can tell the difference “Without double lunch, during the school Thursday U-High business between Freshman and Sophomores from adults, but year I rarely go to Noodles anymore, although I Juniors and Seniors just look too much like college occasionally still go to the Medici in the drops almost entirely students.” mornings to get coffee with friends. “I think there is just enough people walking over “I’m guessing the loss of double lunch didn’t leave a By Rolland Long from campus or Ray School to make up for this. There’s Associate editor huge dent in 57th Street businesses’ income, but there enough other people in the community. Maybe later are still a lot of people I know that don’t have the time Restaurants along 57th Street betweenKenwood and when the weather isn’t as nice, and it becomes snowier, to go to any of them anymore. I definitely miss the Kimbark have lost the business U-Highers brought them we’ll see a difference. Since people from further away convenience of double lunch, since it was great having during Thursday double lunches but that loss has not than Lab might not be willing to walk as far to grab time to relax and finally not need to be somewhere.” affected their overall revenue,managers say. lunch.” Junior Steven Glick also believes nothing beneficial This year’s schedule cut out the extended lunch For Z&H, the one-year-old restaurant on 57thStreet, was created by removing double lunch. period that many UHighersrelied on to dine off- the change caused Z&H staff toscrap a small food stand “I usualLy ate lunch or went to clubs, like math campus, besides attending club meetings or to work on marketed toward U-Highers behind the restaurant, team,” Steven said. “During double lunch, I would journalism, theatre or music projects.. During Thursday although whether the change is good or bad financially commonly eat at Subway, Salonica, Edwardos, Noodles lunch periods, U-Highers no longer pour into Noodles remains to be seen. Etc. and Harold’s Chicken. I don’t eat at any of those Etc., Medici, Z&H, and Edwardo’s. “The thing is, there is a trade off losing the large places anymore. I do not feel I have benefitted from the While Noodles Etc. manager Natalie Housh amount of customers that used to come all at once,” extra time in place of double lunch. I have no chances to believes the absence of U-Highers on Thursdays has Z&H manager Tizziana Baldenebro said. “When too do anything, so sometimes I kill time doing something not been financially damaging, she admits missing their many students came on Thursdays, other people might random. It would be nice if it came back, the extra period sight. not have wanted to eat here because it just looked like I mean.” “Last year, I usually used to see 20 students regularly it’s too crowded.” Not everyone is grieving the loss of double lunch. on Thursdays,” Mrs. Housh said. “I worked here eight “One of our ideas was to create a small store, Having 5th period free, Sophomore Alexis Acosta says years ago, and I would see students during Thursday called a ‘Meat Shed.’ We thought of it because on she has enough time to finish work everyday. “I don’t lunch, and when I came back last year, I still saw them. Thursday we saw so many kids. We were planning really miss it that much, though,” Alexis said. “I have “This summer I was looking forward to seeing them to use the garage to sell hot dogs and other things to 5th free every day, which is pretty nice. I can’t usually go again. When I stopped seeing them, I asked some seniors U-Highers and college students. off-campus with friends, since not everyone has a free about what was going on, and they informed me that “We haven’t seen a big difference in our income, period after lunch. I can somewhat go out with people Thursday double lunches have been removed.” although we’ll probably be more sure later on.” during the free periods everyone has on Thursdays and “Every week we used to receive $150 a week from According to Edwardo’s Manager Reynaldo Servano, Fridays, but sometimes there are assemblies, so it’s not them, very small, less than one percent of our weekly business is slow because of the economy, not because consistent.” income, although it’s still revenue that we are missing, U-Highers aren’t eating there. “Last year I mainly went to study groups for my and the loss is still residual. When so many students “Before I got a job here eight months ago, biology class. During double lunch, I did a lot of work, would come in to eat, I would need to schedule an extra business was already slow,” Mr. Servano said. and sometimes I would also take that time to take a counter during Thursday lunches, so the loss of the “When I came here for a job interview, the General break, like to Potbelly’s. If I did have a choice though, double lunch affects our hours as well.” Manager told me I might not get many hours, and this I would be fine with changing the schedule back to the Mrs. Kirsten Esterly, 15-year manager of the Medici was when I came in as a server. I’m a Manager now, and way it was last year. Bakery and Restaurant, has not noticed any change. you can say that that’s because we’re so understaffed.” “I think the reason a lot of people have a problem “To be honest, Thursdays are always a busy day,” “We’ve been seeing more business in the end of the with losing double lunch is because there’s not much of Mrs. Esterly said. “This is the first I’ve heard of double summer, but we’re not doing as well as we should. Since a break during the school day, since they don’t have time lunch. I must have enough other folks to fill in the spots, I started working here I would say I see mostly college to do homework or relax, so they don’t have a balance because I had no idea.” students and maybe high schoolers every so often. they need to move forward.” “I would see U-Highers mostly in a half-hour Maybe the lack of business might be a little affected by window during all lunch periods, where they would this new schedule change in U-High, but I would say it’s grab a pastry or a milkshake. But it’s still hard to notice mostly because of the economy.”

:::::::40::::::::::::LABLIFE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::41::::::::: Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID   Chicago, IL 60637 Permit No. 1150

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connections2012 ::::save the date::::::::::::::::: GREEN SPACES PLACES Connections Lab Art Expo For details and to RSVP and Auction Preview to any event go to www. BECAUSE A GREAT EDUCATION There was too much ucls.uchicago.edu/alumni CANNOT BE CONTAINED great art so, this year, or contact the Office of BY FOUR WALLS Connections is sponsoring Alumni Relations and an art exhibit and Development at 773-702- performances by Lab 0578 or alumni@ucls. Saturday, March 3 items for the online auction students and teachers uchicago.edu The Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier (starts mid-February) or silent from all divisions. All auction email connections@ families are invited. Like us on Facebook and Attend Lab’s gala fundraiser ucls.uchicago.edu. Saturday, January 28 join the conversation: This annual event brings 1–5 p.m. www.facebook.com/ together parents, alumni, Connections proceeds will help Kovler Gymnasium laboratoryschools faculty, staff, and friends. fund the creation of outdoor spaces at Lab that foster Alumni Pack the Gym Join us on LinkedIn: Dinner, dancing, and student exploration and curiosity even Night http://www.linkedingroup performances including the as they encourage play or Wednesday, February 8 s?about=&gid=63030 U-High Jazz Band exercise or contemplation. And Kovler Gymnasium in keeping with Connections Alumni cocktail reception tradition, a quarter of the Chicago Alumni proceeds will fund student aid. Reception, Classes of Donate items for the auctions 1970-1989 Do you have a particular talent To buy tickets and for Thursday, February 16 you’d like to share? Access to a information please email Hotel Palomar behind-the-scenes opportunity? [email protected] A great bottle of wine or a or call 773-702-0578. Chicago Alumni weekend home? To contribute Reception, Classes of 1990-2008 Thursday, April 19 Hotel Palomar